The Eagles interviewed McCoy early in the process, but did not appear to be interested in him after the meeting.

There is, however, a domino effect here. The Chargers had interviewed Gus Bradley before the Eagles. He obviously will not be headed to San Diego now. The Jaguars have scheduled an interview with Bradley on Wednesday, according to Schefter. Of course, if the Eagles and Bradley agree to terms today, he’ll never make that trip.

It’s important to see where the chips fall around the league in terms of coordinators also. Assuming McCoy to San Diego, if the Eagles hire Bradley, that would only leave three jobs remaining: Arizona, Jacksonville and Chicago. The Bears are down to three finalists, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times: Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Montreal Alouettes (CFL) head coach Marc Trestman.

The Cardinals were also interested in McCoy, but now will have to come up with an alternative. That could be defensive coordinator Ray Horton. If Horton doesn’t land the Cardinals head-coaching job, he could stay in Arizona and continue to run the defense. Or he could be available for other teams.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Ken Whisenhunt could end up replacing McCoy as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator. Whisenhunt had drawn interest from the Eagles, Bills, Chargers and Browns for their head-coaching gigs.

Lovie Smith interviewed with the Bills, Eagles and Chargers. He, too, may have to settle for a coordinator position if he wants a job in the league next season.

The Eagles are one week into their coaching search, and the landscape has changed considerably.

Chip Kelly and Bill O’Brien are staying at Oregon and Penn State, respectively. Dirk Koetter will remain offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. And Doug Marrone signed on with the Bills.

All four were on the Eagles’ radar at one time or another during the last seven days.

So where do Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman and Don Smolenski go from here? The interviews will continue this week. Below is a list of candidates to keep an eye on.

Gus Bradley – Defensive coordinator, Seattle Seahawks

The latest: Based on our post from this morning, Bradley might be the fan favorite. He’s been the Seahawks defensive coordinator since 2009. This year, Seattle finished first in scoring defense (15.3 PPG) and fourth in Football Outsiders’ DVOA ratings. Bradley was part of the Tampa Bay Bucs’ staff for three seasons. Monte Kiffin called him a once-in-a-lifetime coach. Pete Carroll said Bradley’s the best teacher he’s ever been around. And players seem to love taking the field for him. The 46-year-old is expected to interview with the Eagles this week, although no specific date has been set. The process still has to play out, but Bradley appears to be very much in the mix.

Mike McCoy – Offensive coordinator, Denver Broncos

The latest: The Eagles moved on from Kelly Sunday and interviewed McCoy in Denver. The 40-year-old Broncos offensive coordinator is drawing plenty of interest and has also interviewed with the Bears and Cardinals. We’ve discussed why McCoy’s attractive at length here. He’s maximized the potential of quarterbacks like Jake Delhomme, Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow. Most would agree that having a franchise quarterback is the most direct route to NFL success. But what happens when you can’t find one of those guys? It’s good to have a coach who can adapt to personnel. And McCoy’s done that. Peyton Manning said recently he thinks McCoy is ready to be an NFL coach. The Eagles are not allowed to interview McCoy for a second time until the Broncos are knocked out of the playoffs. If Denver reaches the Super Bowl, teams can interview McCoy again after championship weekend.

Jay Gruden – Offensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals

The latest: The Eagles have requested permission to interview Gruden, but have not yet received it. The Bengals are out of the playoffs after failing to score an offensive touchdown Saturday against the Texans. Andy Dalton has left plays on the field all season long. Then again, if Gruden is going to be credited with helping to develop Dalton, he surely deserves part of the blame for the second-year QB not playing better in the postseason. Gruden had never been a coordinator or position coach in the NFL or college before 2011. His resume won’t blow suitors away. Gruden’s best chance at landing a head-coaching gig will be to impress during the interview process.

Bruce Arians – Offensive coordinator, Indianapolis Colts

The latest:Arians missed yesterday’s loss to the Ravens after being hospitalized with nausea and headaches. Stepping in for Chuck Pagano, he has been at the center of the feel-good story in the NFL this season. Arians has experience working with young quarterbacks. He’s helped Andrew Luck along as a rookie and worked with Ben Roethlisberger from 2007-2011, a run that included a Super Bowl win and another Super Bowl appearance. He of course has Philadelphia roots too, having served as the head coach at Temple from 1983 to 1988. The one thing working against Arians is that he’s 60 and has never been an NFL head coach. Colts GM Ryan Grigsonsaid recently that the team would like to try to keep Arians. The Eagles are expected to interview him, but no date has been set.

Darrell Bevell – Offensive coordinator, Seattle Seahawks

The latest: I’m guessing Bevell has an entire page on his resume devoted to Russell Wilson. The rookie QB completed over 64 percent of his passes and threw 26 touchdowns this season. And the Seahawks are headed to the divisional round of the playoffs to take on the Falcons. Bevell has seven years of coordinator experience – the last two with the Seahawks and the previous five with the Vikings. He also served six years on the Packers’ staff, including three seasons as quarterbacks coach. The Seahawks finished the year eighth in scoring offense and fourth in Football Outsiders’ rankings. So far, the only interview Bevell has lined up is with the Bears. But that could change.

Mike Nolan – Falcons defensive coordinator

The latest: The Eagles interviewed him last week. Tim talked to Dan Reeves about Nolan’s credentials and his desire for a second chance. There’s no doubt that Nolan is a respected defensive coordinator, but he went just 18-37 in three-plus seasons with the 49ers. That history will be tough to sell to a frustrated fan base. Then again, Lurie said the Eagles are going to make the right choice, even if it’s not the most popular one. No other team has been linked to Nolan.

Lovie Smith – Former head coach, Chicago Bears

The latest: You figure if the Eagles are willing to give Nolan a look, then they should at least see what Smith has to say. The former Bears coach went 81-63 in nine seasons in Chicago. Smith’s teams were almost always in the mix, but only made the playoffs three times. He had defense and special teams covered, but never could quite get the offense going. Smith interviewed with the Bills before they hired Marrone. He is 54-years-old.

Keith Armstrong – Special-teams coordinator, Atlanta Falcons

The latest: The Eagles interviewed him last week. Armstrong has drawn interest from the Bears and Chiefs too. There’s been a lot of talk this offseason about giving special-teams coaches a look. Armstrong played his college ball at Temple and is a Levittown native. Given some of the coaches he’s up against, Armstrong seems like a longshot at this point.

Mike Zimmer – Defensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals

The latest:Mike Mayock openly lobbied for Zimmer to get a look during Saturday’s broadcast. He’s spent the past 13 seasons as a coordinator – five with the Bengals, one with the Falcons and seven with the Cowboys. While Zimmer got a pair of interviews last year (Bucs, Dolphins), he’s yet to get a head-coaching opportunity. Zimmer’s units have finished in the top-10 in scoring defense in three of the past four seasons. In the second half of 2012, the Bengals allowed just 12.8 points per game. At 56-years-old, Zimmer may find himself stuck in the coordinator box. He has no reported interviews scheduled, even though there are still five head-coaching vacancies.

Greg Roman – Offensive coordinator, San Francisco 49ers

The latest: I’m a bit surprised he has not had any interviews yet. Roman, a Ventnor N.J. native, has worked on Jim Harbaugh’s staff for the past four seasons – two with the Niners and two at Stanford. Under the direction of Roman and Harbaugh, Alex Smith turned in his best season as a pro in 2011. The 49ers’ offense turned the ball over just 10 times last season, tied for the fewest in NFL history. This year, the 49ers have changed their offense to fit Colin Kaepernick’s talents. San Francisco is 11th in the league in scoring offense and ranks fifth, according to Football Outsiders. Roman, 40, has never been a head coach at any level and has only been an NFL coordinator for two seasons.

Ben McAdoo – Quarterbacks coach, Green Bay Packers

The latest: Tim introduced us to McAdoo last month as a potential sleeper. He’s worked with Aaron Rodgers and was being looked at as a coordinator by other teams last offseason. Lurie, of course, went this route once before and had success hiring a certain QBs coach from Green Bay. McAdoo is 35-years-old. The Packers take on the 49ers in the divisional round this weekend.

The Eagles and Browns are leaving the desert, and neither has Chip Kelly on the plane with them.

Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman and Don Smolenski are off to Denver to meet with Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Their lunch with Kelly spilled will into the night Saturday, but the sides parted without reaching any kind of agreement.

Joe Banner was said to be down to Kelly and Doug Marrone. The Syracuse head coach has since signed on to be the Bills next head coach, and Kelly has yet to commit.

Besides McCoy, the Eagles are expected to meet with Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians this week. The Bengals have yet to grant the Eagles permission to speak with Jay Gruden.

The Eagles are expected to interview Oregon head coach Chip Kelly and Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy over the weekend. That will likely not be the end of their search. Jeffrey Lurie has promised a thorough process, and there are several assistant coaches involved in the postseason that they will likely want to sit down with.

But McCoy and Kelly are two hot names and both could very well end up with NFL head coaching jobs over the next couple weeks. One may even land in Philadelphia. Let’s examine the two side-by-side.

MIKE MCCOY

AGE: 40

BIO: This is McCoy’s fourth season as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator. The first two seasons he helped Kyle Orton throw for over 3,500 yards. Last season he adjusted the offense completely to fit Tim Tebow‘s skill set and ran a version of the read-option that has since become an en vogue style. Now he is blessed with Peyton Manning. Before Denver, he spent nine years as an assistant with the Panthers working largely with quarterbacks. He helped Jake Delhomme reach the Pro Bowl in 2005.

QUESTIONS: He is obviously a quality offensive mind, but what kind of leader is he? What would his staff look like? Would he fit and thrive in an environment like Philadelphia? Does the fact that he has never been a head coach on any level hurt him?

WHAT HE SAYS: “That’s our job as a football coach is to take advantage of your talent,” McCoy said. “That is the No. 1 job I have here to make sure that we evaluate the guys properly during the offseason and training camp and find out what we do best as an offense…It doesn’t matter who the 11 guys are. If someone goes down, someone comes up and we’ve got to make adjustments as a coaching staff and as players to figure out, what do we do best as an organization? That’s our job.”

WHAT THEY SAY: “I tell you, he’s a worker. We spend a lot of hours together – early mornings, late nights – trying to get kind of our plan in place for what kind of offense we were going to be,” Peyton Manning said. “There is no substitute for work ethic, and Mike certainly has that. … In my opinion, he deserves a shot at one of these head coaching jobs.”

CHIP KELLY

AGE: 49

BIO: Kelly served as an assistant at New Hampshire and Johns Hopkins before taking Oregon’s offensive coordinator job in 2007. He was named head coach of the Ducks in ’09. He has a sterling head coaching record of 46-7 at Oregon. Known as an offensive guru, his up-tempo style of play is said to have influenced the Patriots’ attack on the NFL level. This season, the Ducks averaged 51 points and 550 yards per game. Oregon just capped a 12-1 season with a win over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.

QUESTIONS: Is Kelly’s offense a gimmick that wouldn’t translate to the NFL? Or is it the future? Is he willing to adapt to the personnel on his club or would you need to overhaul the roster? After stints in New Hampshire and Oregon, is he ready for the Philly pressure? Will his lack of NFL experience hinder him?

WHAT HE SAYS: “It’s more a fact-finding mission, finding out if it fits or doesn’t fit,” Kelly said of the upcoming interviews. “I’ve been in one interview in my life for the National Football League, and that was a year ago. I don’t really have any preconceived notions about it. I think that’s what this deal is all about for me. It’s not going to affect us in terms of we’re not on the road (recruiting). I’ll get an opportunity if people do call, see where they are. I want to get it wrapped up quickly and figure out where I’m going to be.”

WHAT THEY SAY: “I was interested to hear how he did it,” said Bill Belichick of the no-huddle. “I would say he expanded it to a different level and it was very interesting to understand what he was doing. Certainly I’ve learned a lot from talking to Chip about his experiences with it and how he does it and his procedure and all that.”

If Jeffrey Lurie or Howie Roseman calls up Peyton Manning to get his take on Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, they’ll get a ringing endorsement.

“I think he’s ready; I think he’s paid his dues,” Manning said, per the Denver Post. “Mike’s a good leader. He’s had some good coaches that have been mentors to him, different coaches that he’s worked with in his years in the NFL that I think he’s incorporated some of their leadership philosophies and his own philosophy.”

The Eagles will interview McCoy on Sunday in Denver, a team spokesman confirmed. Les Bowen of the Daily News first had the report.

As we’ve discussed previously, McCoy’s most attractive quality is that he’s had to work with different quarterbacks and different offenses – Jake Delhomme, Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow and Manning. He’s also worked under a respected head coach in John Fox – both in Carolina and Denver.

“I tell you, he’s a worker. We spend a lot of hours together – early mornings, late nights – trying to get kind of our plan in place for what kind of offense we were going to be,” Manning said. “There is no substitute for work ethic, and Mike certainly has that. … In my opinion, he deserves a shot at one of these head coaching jobs.”

We’ve talked about how the Eagles could go up against Joe Banner and the Browns for candidates like Chip Kelly and Bill O’Brien. But if they like McCoy, they’ll have plenty of competition too. The Bears, Bills and Cardinals also have plans to interview him.

Now that we’re three days into the process, here’s an updated list of potential Eagles coaching targets.

Chip Kelly – Head Coach, University of Oregon

The latest: Several reports suggest the Eagles have Kelly on their short list, but they’re going to have competition. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com suggests Jeffrey Lurie could be in a battle with Joe Banner for Kelly’s services. Two high-ranking NFL executives tell Adam Caplan that Kelly is the clear-cut No. 1 choice for the Browns. Kelly’s Oregon Ducks take on Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday. After that game, look for teams to move aggressively to interview him.

Bill O’Brien – Penn State head coach

The latest: He’s another college coach drawing quite a bit of interest. According to David Jones of the Harrisburg Patriot-News, the Eagles, Browns and Cardinals all plan on interviewing O’Brien. There would be issues to work around for teams pursuing O’Brien, including a buyout in his contract with Penn State. But he has plenty of qualities owners and GMs will covet. O’Brien has five years of NFL experience with the Patriots, he led the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record amid difficult circumstances, and he’s held a variety of college assistant jobs. Those who have covered O’Brien closely suggest he’ll shine during the interview process. At this point, it’d be a surprise if the Eagles decided not to give O’Brien a serious look.

Mike McCoy – Offensive coordinator, Denver Broncos

The latest: A source confirmed Wednesday morning that the Eagles plan on meeting with McCoy. They’ll need to get in line. The Broncos offensive coordinator is also drawing interest from the Bears, Bills and Cardinals. What’s there to like about McCoy? He has an excellent track record of maximizing the potential of quarterbacks he’s worked with – like Jake Delhomme, Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow. This year, his job’s been a little bit easier with Peyton Manning. The Broncos are second in the NFL in scoring offense. McCoy is only 40-years-old and is the kind of coach Lurie might envision leading the franchise for several years to come.

Jon Gruden – ESPN analyst

The latest: As always, his situation is fluid. It looks like Gruden might have put some feelers out but ended up unable to find a fit – either because of his demands or lack of team interest. His name had been in rumors at the beginning of the week, but Dan Pompei of the National Football Post reported yesterday that Gruden is leaning towards staying at ESPN.Either way, I’m not ready to rule him out completely just yet.

Doug Marrone – Syracuse head coach

The latest: According to an Inquirer report, Marrone is one of the candidates the Eagles are expected to target. Like O’Brien, he has NFL experience in addition to having been a college head coach. Marrone was the Saints offensive coordinator from 2006 to 2008. And he coached the Jets offensive line from 2002 to 2005.

Mike Nolan – Falcons defensive coordinator

The latest: The Eagles were scheduled to interview him today. Tim talked to Dan Reeves about Nolan’s credentials and his desire for a second chance. There’s no doubt that Nolan is a respected defensive coordinator, but he went just 18-37 in three-plus seasons with the 49ers. That history will be tough to sell to a frustrated fan base. Then again, Lurie said the Eagles are going to make the right choice, even if it’s not the most popular one. No other team has been linked to Nolan.

Keith Armstrong – Falcons special-teams coordinator

The latest: The Eagles were scheduled to interview him today also. Armstrong has drawn interest from the Bears and Chiefs too. There’s been a lot of talk this offseason about giving special-teams coaches a look. Armstrong played his college ball at Temple and is a Levittown native. Given some of the coaches he’s up against, Armstrong would likely have to knock the interview with Lurie out of the park.

Greg Roman – Offensive coordinator, San Francisco 49ers

What you need to know: I’m a bit surprised he has not had any interviews (or at least any interviews leaked). Like the Broncos and Falcons, the 49ers have a first-round bye, meaning Roman is free to talk to interested teams this week. I’m not ready to rule him out yet since we’re so early in the process.

The following candidates cannot interview this week because their current teams have games this weekend. All were on our original list (which contains information on each candidate).

The most sought-after NFL assistant on the market this week appears to be Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

And a source confirms that the Eagles plan on interviewing him. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com first reported the team’s interest.

There’s a lot to like about the 40-year-old McCoy. Yes, he’s currently working with Peyton Manning, which is probably every offensive coordinator’s dream. But McCoy’s previous accomplishments are impressive. He made the most of his offense in 2011, working with a quarterback who couldn’t really throw in Tim Tebow. Kyle Orton had the best years of his career working with McCoy. And Jake Delhomme made a Pro Bowl in 2005 with McCoy as his quarterbacks coach.

An important trait in any head coach is the ability to adapt to personnel, especially when you consider injuries, free agency, players aging, etc. McCoy has proof on his resume that he’s able to do that.

“We’re firm believers here that you have to adjust to who you have,” he told the Sporting News recently.

Before taking over Denver’s offense in 2009, McCoy spent nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He was the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2007 and 2008; the quarterbacks coach from 2003 to 2006; quarterbacks coach/offensive assistant in 2002; wide receivers coach in 2001; and an offensive assistant in 2000.

This year, the Broncos finished the regular season second in the league in scoring offense, averaging 30.1 points per game.

During his playing days, McCoy (a quarterback) spent training camp with the Eagles in 1998.

Here’s an excerpt from that Sporting News article I mentioned above:

Those sentiments are echoed around the Broncos’ locker room for an assistant coach who keeps his emotions in check, doesn’t use public statements to cut down his players and displays a placid, but palpable, authority over the offense, which John Fox has entrusted to him.

“I think Mike has done an outstanding job,” Fox said. “He did an outstanding job a year ago. He’s done the same thing again this year. You like to see people get opportunities and have those options. I’m sure it will be no different this year.”

Because the Broncos have a first-round bye, teams are allowed to travel to Denver to interview McCoy this week. According to reports, the Bears, Bills and Cardinals will also be interviewing McCoy.

You can find everything we’ve written about O’Brien right here. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported on Sunday that the Penn State head coach is on the short list of both the Eagles and the Browns.

There are some important questions with O’Brien. Would he leave Happy Valley after one year? And what are the exact terms of his buyout? Mortensen reported that O’Brien believed initially that the Jerry Sandusky fallout would be a criminal matter not subject to NCAA sanctions.

David Jones of the Harrisburg Patriot-News reports that the buyout is even more than initially believed. He throws out the possibility that O’Brien is simply trying to gain leverage to re-negotiate his current deal.

“I’ve got a game to play,” he said, per the Associated Press. “We’re playing in the Fiesta Bowl. That’s the biggest thing in my life. If I allowed other things to get into my life, then they would be distractions, but there aren’t. Our focus 100 percent is on the Fiesta Bowl. My heart is to win today and that’s it. I know everybody wants to hear a different answer. And I know that at times when I don’t give you guys the answer that you guys want, then I’m being evasive. I’m not being evasive.”

MCCOY GETS A LOOK IN BUFFALO

Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is a hot name. The Buffalo Bills have asked for permission to interview him, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Who will be the next head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles? Here’s a list of names to get you started.

Mike McCoy – Offensive coordinator, Denver Broncos

What you need to know: If Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman are looking for a coach who’s shown he can adapt to personnel, they’ll want to give McCoy a call. He catered Denver’s offense to fit Tim Tebow’s skill setin 2011 and now coaches a Peyton Manning-led group that ranks second in scoring (going into Sunday). Kyle Orton had the best years of his career under McCoy’s direction. And Jake Delhomme made a Pro Bowl in 2005 with McCoy as his quarterbacks coach. Fun fact: McCoy, a former QB, spent training camp with the Eagles back in 1998. The 40-year-old has never been a head coach.

Jon Gruden – ESPN analyst

What you need to know: As recently as Saturday night, this seemed like a longshot. But respected columnist Dan Pompei of the National Football Post wrote Sunday morning that people around Gruden are convinced he’s coming back and believe there’s “a good chance” he lands in Philadelphia. Hiring Gruden would indicate that Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman believe they’ve assembled a talented roster that has underachieved and is close to being competitive immediately.

Bill O’Brien – Penn State head coach

What you need to know: It had seemed likely that he was staying put, but Chris Mortensen’s report that O’Brien is on the Eagles’ short list changes things. There’s a lot to like about the Penn State head coach. He spent five seasons as an assistant with the Patriots, including one as offensive coordinator. And he showed he’s capable of working through extremely difficult circumstances while in Happy Valley. Belichick’s disciples have struggled outside of New England, but O’Brien may be an exception since he’s already proven himself elsewhere. O’Brien’s contract with Penn State contains a buyout, but then again, the Saints are shelling out $8.5 million per season for Sean Payton. In other words, owners are willing to pay to get their man.

Chip Kelly – Head Coach, University of Oregon

What you need to know: Hailed as an offensive mastermind, Kelly may be the most-hyped candidate on the market. We’ve written about him at length in this space. He has four years of college head-coaching experience, but has never held a job in the NFL. Oregon’s offense averaged 50.8 points per game this season, second in the country. The Ducks have ranked first, second, third and eighth in scoring offense during Kelly’s tenure as head coach. Bill Belichickhas picked Kelly’s brain and incorporated aspects of his scheme into the Patriots’ offense. Teams looking to add Kelly will have to ask themselves whether they’re hiring him for his offensive mind or his offensive system. The system might fail, especially with inadequate personnel, but Kelly’s success in college suggests he’ll be able to figure things out at the NFL level. The Bucs offered Kelly their head-coaching job last offseason, but he ultimately decided to stay at Oregon. The consensus seems to be that he’s ready to make the leap this offseason. Kelly is 49-years-old.

Greg Roman – Offensive coordinator, San Francisco 49ers

What you need to know: Roman, a Ventnor N.J. native, has worked on Jim Harbaugh’s staff for the past four seasons – two with the Niners and two at Stanford. Under the direction of Roman and Harbaugh, Alex Smith turned in his best season as a pro in 2011. The 49ers’ offense turned the ball over just 10 times last season, tied for the fewest in NFL history. This year, the 49ers have changed their offense to fit Colin Kaepernick’s talents. San Francisco is 11th in the league in scoring offense and ranks fifth, according to Football Outsiders. Roman, 40, has never been a head coach at any level and has only been an NFL coordinator for two seasons.

Dirk Koetter – Offensive coordinator, Atlanta Falcons

What you need to know: Koetter has helped Matt Ryan have a career year as the Falcons rank fifth in scoring offense and 10th in Football Outsiders’ rankings. Koetter produced mixed results in his previous stops. He served five years (2007-2011) as the offensive coordinator of the Jaguars. Arizona State was 40-34 under Koetter’s direction, and Boise State was 26-10. Koetter worked with Andy Reid at three different spots – San Francisco State (1985), UTEP (1986-1988) and Missouri (1989-1993). He is 52.

Jay Gruden – Offensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals

What you need to know: Tim had a good breakdown of Gruden earlier this month. He’s done a nice job developing young talent – and specifically, a young quarterback – the past two seasons. Andy Dalton, a second-round pick in 2011, threw 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as a rookie. This year, his numbers are up across the board. A.J. Green, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the top receivers in the game, and the Bengals are headed back to the playoffs for the second straight season. Gruden had never been a coordinator or a position coach in the NFL or college before 2011, although he did serve as an offensive assistant with the Bucs from 2002 to 2008. He’s 45-year-old.

Gus Bradley – Defensive coordinator, Seattle Seahawks

What you need to know: Bradley’s spent the last four seasons as Seattle’s defensive coordinator, and the results this year speak for themselves. The Seahawks lead the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 15.5 points per game, and are second in Football Outsiders’ rankings. Bradley coaches a versatile, physical group, and the Seahawks boast perhaps the best secondary in the NFL. Bradley, 46, worked under Monte Kiffin in Tampa for three seasons. He was the linebackers coach from 2007 to 2008 and Tampa’s defensive quality control coach before that.

Ray Horton – Defensive coordinator, Arizona Cardinals

What you need to know: The Cardinals have received no help from their offense, but the 3-4 ‘D’ ranks fifth in Football Outsiders’ rankings – second against the pass. Horton played for and coached under Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau. He has 19 years of NFL coaching experience, including six with the Steelers (2005-2010). Horton interviewed with the Rams last year before they hired Jeff Fisher. He could be in line to take over for Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona if he is fired.

Darrell Bevell – Offensive coordinator, Seattle Seahawks

What you need to know: Bevell has seven years of coordinator experience – the last two with the Seahawks and the previous five with the Vikings. He also served six years on the Packers’ staff, including three seasons as quarterbacks coach. The Seahawks are eighth in scoring offense and fourth in Football Outsiders’ rankings. Bevell and the Seahawks coaches have done a masterful job building the offense around rookie signal-caller Russell Wilson. Bevell is 42.

Mike Zimmer – Defensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals

What you need to know: He’s spent the past 13 seasons as a coordinator – five with the Bengals, one with the Falcons and seven with the Cowboys. While Zimmer got a pair of interviews last year (Bucs, Dolphins), he’s yet to get a head-coaching opportunity. Zimmer’s units have finished in the top-10 in scoring defense in three of the past four seasons. Cincinnati is second in the NFL with 47 sacks. Zimmer is 56-years-old.

Bruce Arians – Offensive coordinator, Indianapolis Colts

What you need to know: Stepping in for Chuck Pagano, Arians has been at the center of the feel-good story in the NFL this season. A year after earning the No. 1 pick with a 2-14 record, the Colts are headed to the playoffs. Arians has experience working with young quarterbacks. He’s helped Andrew Luck along as a rookie and worked with Ben Roethlisberger from 2007-2011, a run that included a Super Bowl win and another Super Bowl appearance. He of course has Philadelphia roots too, having served as the head coach at Temple from 1983 to 1988. The one thing working against Arians is that he’s 60 and has never been an NFL head coach before.

Ben McAdoo – Packers quarterbacks coach

What you need to know: Tim introduced us to McAdoo earlier this month as a potential sleeper. He’s worked with Aaron Rodgers and was being looked at as a coordinator by other teams last offseason. Lurie, of course, went this route once before and had success hiring a certain QBs coach from Green Bay.

Mike Nolan, Falcons defensive coordinator

What you need to know: He went 18-37 in three-plus seasons as the 49ers head coach, but he may get a second look. Atlanta is fourth in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 18.5 points per game. Nolan’s also served stints as the defensive coordinator of the Dolphins, Broncos, Ravens, Redskins, Jets and Giants.

Mel Tucker, Jaguars defensive coordinator

What you need to know: Another one of the sleepers McManus’ listed previously. He’s had little to work with in terms of talent in Jacksonville, and the results as of late have not been pretty (27th in scoring defense in 2012). The 40-year-old recently interviewed for the University of Wisconsin head-coaching job, enforcing the belief that the Jaguars’ struggles on defense are due to talent, not bad coaching.

Dave Toub, Bears special-teams coordinator

What you need to know: Toub served on the Eagles’ staff from 2001 to 2003 as an assistant, working with John Harbaugh’s special-teams group and the defensive line. He interviewed with the Dolphins for their head-coaching vacancy last offseason. Chicago’s special-teams units are consistently among the best in the league. SI.com’s Don Banks recently suggested that special-teams coaches may get more of a look this offseason.

Steve Sarkisian, University of Washington head coach

What you need to know: He was mentioned recently by Albert Breer of NFL Network as a potential candidate. Sarkisian has coached the Huskies the last four years, previously spent time as an assistant at USC and served one year as the quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders.